Fire Safety Educators of Colorado

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has announced a Smoking & Home Fires Campaign to put an end to the number one cause of preventable home fire deaths – fires started by smoking materials. The campaign is designed to alert smokers and those who live with smokers about simple steps they can take to stop the fire before it starts in their home.

Every year, about 1,000 people are killed in smoking-related home fires. According to the USFA, one-in-four people killed in home fires is not the smoker whose cigarette caused the fire. In fact, 34% were children of the smokers and 25% were neighbors or friends of the smokers.

This is not an anti-smoking campaign. The fire community recognizes that as long as people continue to smoke, they should also take steps to prevent fires caused by smoking. The USFA and Fire Safety Educators of Colorado want you to know that most smoking fires start on beds, furniture, or in trash. Many smoking related fire deaths are caused by the victim falling asleep while smoking.

Using ashtrays with a wide and stable base. If it wobbles, it won’t work.
If you do smoke, smoke outside.
Put out cigarettes in an ashtray or can filled with sand.
Check for cigarette butts under sofa cushions and on and behind furniture.
Never smoke in a home where oxygen is used.
Use fire-safe cigarettes that are less likely to cause fires.
Make sure your cigarette is fully out, especially if you are drowsy due to medicine or alcohol.
The most important thing to remember is to make sure the cigarette is fully extinguished.
Run ashes and butts under water before throwing them away.
Put It Out. All the Way. Every Time.

The USFA and Fire Safety Educators of Colorado also encourage you to practice general fire safety by:

Place properly installed and maintained smoke alarms on every level of your home.
Using “dual sensor” smoke alarms that can sense slow, smoldering fires as well as fast burning, flaming fires.
Checking the batteries at least once a year.
Planning two ways to escape from every room and practicing the escape plan with everyone in the home.

For more information, click http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/campaigns/smoking/.